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• Fatality reported in I-94 accident Thursday morning
• Update on fatal crash on I-94
• Hudson's St. Patrick's Church holds service for former priest
• Update - I-94 crash victim named

At least one person is dead after a Thursday morning accident on I-94 near Baldwin.

A representative at the Wisconsin State Patrol office in Eau Claire confirmed the fatality but had little else to report. He said more information would be released later in the day (Thursday, Dec. 30).

A multi-vehicle traffic crash this morning on Interstate 94 resulted in a fatality and the temporary closure of the westbound lanes near Baldwin (mile marker 17).

The crash occurred at 6 a.m. and the westbound lanes were reopened at 8:15 a.m. The Wisconsin State Patrol reports that an eastbound vehicle on I-94 crossed the median and struck a westbound vehicle. After the initial impact, the westbound vehicle struck a westbound semi-trailer.

The driver of the eastbound vehicle was killed and the two passengers in the vehicle were transported to hospitals. The drivers of the westbound vehicle and semi-trailer sustained minor injuries and were released.

The crash remains under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the family.

By Meg Heaton

About 300 people attended a service at St. Patrick's Catholic Church Dec. 29 in memory of Fr. Ryan Erickson.

Erickson, who had been an associate pastor at the church from 2000 to 2003, committed suicide on Dec. 19 in Hurley where he was the priest at St. Mary's Church. Prior to his death Erickson had been questioned by Hudson police detectives in connection with the murders of Dan O'Connell and James Ellison in Hudson in February 2002. In one of three notes left behind by the priest, he allegedly denied that he had anything to do with the murders.

In his sermon, St. Patrick's pastor Fr. Peter Szleszinski said when the news of Erickson's suicide reached him, his first response was anger. He said the idea that Erickson would choose to end his life was hard to comprehend but that it made him mad that the priest would choose to do so at Christmastime. Szleszinski said, "That he would do this thing at this time and cause such pain to his family, his mother and brother and sister, and all his friends here in Hudson made me mad."

Szleszinski said Erickson's suicide reminded him of an incident from his childhood when a young woman from his hometown church in Weyerhauser committed suicide at Christmastime. Back then, anyone who committed suicide could not be buried in the Catholic Church. Szleszinski said he was glad that the Church has since relaxed their standing on suicide and allowed for a Catholic burial. The Church now views suicide as product of mental illness and that the person is not necessarily responsible for their actions.

Szleszinski said that he was approached by two students from St. Patrick's School who asked if Erickson was now in hell. They said. Erickson had told them that suicide was a mortal sin and that meant a person would go to hell. Szleszinski said Erickson was right about the punishment for mortal sins but that in this case the he had been wrong and he was not in hell and that the children should pray for him.

Szleszinski praised Erickson for his zeal as a priest and for his devotion to his job. He drew a laugh when from those at the service when he admitted that he "could never get quite as worked up as Fr. Ryan." Erickson was known for his impassioned sermons at the church. Regarding the murder investigation, Szleszinski said he didn't know anything beyond what the public knew. He said he was disturbed by what had been reported by the media and questioned its relevance to the investigation.

Among those attending the service was Dan O'Connell's mother, Janet.

A 27-year-old man from Chaska, Minn., was killed this morning in a multi-vehicle traffic crash on Interstate 94 that temporarily closed the westbound lanes near Baldwin (mile marker 17).

Matthew Woodford, driver of the eastbound vehicle that crossed the I-94 median and struck a westbound vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Laura Woodford, 25, passenger in the eastbound vehicle, was transported to Regions Hospital and is listed in critical condition. A young child, also in the eastbound vehicle, did not sustain injuries and has been released to family members. The drivers of the westbound vehicle and semi-trailer also involved in the crash sustained minor injuries and were released shortly after the crash.

The crash occurred at 6 a.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 30) and the westbound lanes were reopened at 8:15 a.m.

Another crash occurred at 6:35 a.m. near mile marker 14 when an eastbound pick-up truck crossed the I-94 median and struck the rear trailer of a westbound double-bottom semi-trailer. The 21-year-old driver of the truck is listed in critical condition at Regions Hospital. The semi-trailer driver was not injured.

Both crashes remain under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.